The land on which Tom Cat Towers Fine Dining Experience sits was once owned by His Majesty King Henry VIII and the Masters and Scholars of Trinity University, Cambridge. It is ancient land with ancient hedgerows which are laid by experts. These hedgerows are home to mice and other wildlife which having been there for centuries and left mostly undisturbed, except by the local feline population who can often be seen sitting for hours supervising the rodents who scuff around in the undergrowth. Now and again an athletic pounce is observed by an eager cat, but the cats who trundle through the gardens are generally all failed mousers as they are so well fed by their humans!

The mice feast on the seeds dropped from the bird feeders then the cat feast on the mice – if they can catch them!

The mice go quite mad for fat balls which are put out for the birds. They try to nibble away through the mesh to get at the feast inside. They love lardy cakes which Maid makes in winter. Half a kilo of melted lard stuffed with seeds and bread. It is an epicurean speciality here and considered one of the more exclusive dining experiences.

We also have shed mice and patio mice. Patio mice are fun as they come squeaking out across the flagstones looking for scraps of food. Both Maid and I watch them for hours as they scamper round just the other side of the glass filling their mouths with food and running back to their nests to feed their families. They are quite sweet.